Losing weight/ the atkins diet approach

[massagewithjoy]

Hello I am wondering if there is anyone out there looking for support or a buddy system for losing weight using the atkins diet. I know what I have to do it is doing it that has been the problem for me. I have to lost over 170 pounds and the thought of that is so daunting. I know that I need to break it down into small chunks. However I know that if I had more support it would help me tremendously. Please post me and let me know if you are interested~
Take care,
Joy

[Denise Anne]

Hi - Only just joined this board and seen your message.
I am following a slightly different diet to the Atkins but on the same wavelength - would love to discuss with you - and offer support.
I have about 30lb to lose but boy am I attached to it emotionally - it is proving to be very hard to move - self -sabotage is an art I am very good at -
would love to hear from you.
DENISE

[tamakay]

Hi there. I am not on the Atkins diet, however I am holding on to 20lbs of emotional weight. Since January 2nd I have lost 25 pounds and kept it off, but I just can't get excited about losing this last 20. No excitement=no excercise. So althought my weight loss approach is differnt than yours (I'm on Weight Watchers) I could use some motivation and support as well.

[Denise Anne]

Hi Tamakay/Joy,
Can't wait to get discussing this topic on our virtual group. I know myself enough now to know that I am scared of losing this last lot of weight - being slim and attractive again opens a new range of possibilities that I don't really want to consider at present.
Still.......I have lost about 10lb and am steadily losing ...
Weight Watchers is choice......
Hope to talk more when we get our group underway.
DENISE

[tamakay]

Here's what I don't get...I want to get the attention I slim body would bring. So what could possibly be holding me back?

[Denise Anne]

Hi Tamakay,
Losing the weight is definitely a discipline thing for me - thats without anything else - also I've suddenly realised you can only use energy once. That means I must consciously put aside time and energy for losing weight - if I blast through life as I used to then there is no time or energy for me and weight loss - it is as much an unconscious act of the mind as a physical thing.

My fears are my own unique thing - simply that last time I lost weight and was very slim and attractive I was also very naive and didn't have a clue how I looked or what a target I was for nice and unfortunately not so nice people - my entire life and most of my naive beliefs about people self destructed over the period of a few months - hence my trepidation.
At least I am not naive this time - if anything cynical and mistrusting - no .........yes, yes, yes.
I don't think I had any idea of the real world or what other people go through until 10 years ago.
Anyway you are losing weight fine.......just accept that it will be a gradual thing and that you will have to give it your time, attention, and focus....... its like training for a marathon.....- there will be plateaus during which you can contemplate.....until the energy/enthusiasm returns - your body knows best.
I always felt that things should be easy once I decided to do them..........once I accepted that they weren't but were there to help me recreate a part of me again in a different way then I relaxed - its the doing not the end result that is actually important (someone said that....!!). God where did all that come from - hope its of help - actually I should read my own advise more often. he he he
Neat to talk to you. You'll get exercising again when your body is ready.
DENISE

[massagewithjoy]

Thanks friends for you sharing! It is all helpful. I am beginning to like this! Let's play a game! Let's have a race. Lets get on our scales today and then check in one week and see how much we lost...maybe if we play more and work less it will be less tedious and more fun!!!! What dya think? Lets put up a couple of notes in places we see everyday like the fridge to remind us that the RACE is in progress...hey this is one race I could win...tee hee...let me know what you think?
Blessings and Be well...ahh yes taking your own advice ...
Joy

[greta]

I would like to join in your race and see how much I can lose in one week

[massagewithjoy]

I just got your post...okay the race is on!!! yey! Ra ra ra!
lemme know how you are doing...you inspired me to go for swim! thanks!
Joy!

[Jan]

Hi Joy,

I encourage you to visit the Mind-Body Makeover Project section on Cheryl's website for further support in your quest to lose weight and get fit. In addition to the community boards, please also consider starting a Life Makeover Group in your community with a focus of eating more healthful foods, getting fit and losing weight. Surrounding yourself with support can often make a huge difference in your success!

Best of luck to you!!
Jan

[massagewithjoy]

Thanks for the advice Jan...but how do I find people in my area is the big question...maybe post here possibly...Thanks Greta for getting me in gear. I only lost 2 lbs. but hey better then nothing and I did cheat even though I put a sign on the fridge saying the race was on! grrrrrrrr how are you doing! Maybe we can start a new thread so as not to pester other people this disinterests...oh wise Jan the moderator any suggesting for a girl that needs instructions for dummies Take care all and be well!
Joy

[greta]

Hi Joy, Glad I started you on the way.. I was sidetracked, had my grandson here for the week and I am not used to having all the goodies and carbs around so I am 2 lbs. behind you but getting on the ball now that he is back home. Thanks for your help.

[tamakay]

Hi all, I have added some exercise into the mix. I haven't lost any weight yet, but I know I will break this three month plateau soon!

My advice: Drink lots of water! It really makes a difference.

[massagewithjoy]

Hi Thanks for the inspiration...everyone...I am increasing my water intake and am pulling me out of that pit of depression I lovingly call the nothing. It is so nice to read some inspiration. I read them all and it is inspiring. KEEP
IT UP and yeah water really helps me

[Dreamer]

Hello,

I just wanted to post something here .. i found out about this message board by reading an article in the current Family Circle magazine. I went on the Atkins diet four years ago and stayed on it faithfully for 9mths. I lost 57 lbs over this period of time. Some of the things that I did to inspire me to keep with it was to go to thrift stores and try on clothes that I really liked but that were too small to fit me .. now mind you they were not way too small but they were too tight to zip up or fit so snug that it didnt look good. I would hang the dress or outfit in my bathroom and every day I decided I was going to work toward getting in it. This kept me going. I also faithfully took vitamins and walked and drank water. By the time I got down to my goal weight I was pretty skinny and found that I even had to gain some back. I have added some 15 lbs from 4 yrs ago but often i can just cut out the carbs and the weight comes off again. I wouldnt have believed it would work if i hadnt done it myself. So stick with it .. I am going to go back on it .. to loose about 10 lbs. I like myself better when i am at 140 and not 150. Have a great night .. and so glad to find this forum!!!

[Terre]

Okay, I'd like to join, too. Help me with the diet. I need to lose around 60 pounds, but have been in a depression for about five years. and haven't had much willpower. What works best on the Atkinson diet? My husband and I eat out every night, so I need advice on eating out on Atkinson.

I'm new to the boards and this website (my first day :) ).

Thanks for any advice.

[massagewithjoy]

Dreamer thanks for the view into the future. I know that it works from doing it but what you said does inspire me. I have been off it now for well over a week going through a bout of depression myself. Everyday I say I am gonna start again and I haven't yet. I am getting down on myself which I know just makes it harder. T. I love your quote at the end of your post and welcome! Wow all these people out there feeding me positive stuff and still I am failing miserably. I have so many things intense things going on...I even smoked cigarettes the other night and I haven't done that in 6 months I was so MAD at myself. I know I need to be kinder and more understanding based on all that has happened to me in the last 6 months...I left an abusive 7 year relationship, I died and was brought bag a whole different bag of worms and left MA and moved to FL. which was a good move but still up there with #1 stressors in peoples lives. I am unemployed and depressed and a close friend killed himself 1 month ago which really through me over the edge. I couldn't go to the funeral because my x was going to be there and I couldn't deal with him. Sounds like a soap huh. I am hoping things will turn around but right now all I can do is take it day by day. That would be my best advice to anyone taking on this diet too...at restaurants partake in a decadent steak dinner and go with salad and a cream dressing...they tend to be much less in carbs...like caesar...rather then vinagrettes which often have more...it will feel very satisfying. Diet soda to top it off and you don't feel like you are missing that much that way. Hope people are doing better then me right now and it is nice to have reminders and feedbacks it helps me to at least stay aware. take care and happy 4th!
Joy

[kck]

I am not on Atkins but a similar plan that is low in carbs. I have found that after cutting way down on the carbs my mood AND my energy level increase dramatically, thus making it easier to stay on plan. Also, after the first few days my cravings drop away and my appetite decreases so that I am usually eating way less than when I ate all those carbs! Food no longer is all that I think about, in fact sometimes I "forget" to eat! That part was just unbelievable to me the first time it happened! I am slowly losing weight. Have lost maybe 12 pounds this time so far in the past month and a half. And with the energy boost and even out mood it is easier for me to incorporate exercise into my daily routine. I don't do anything drastic, just try to walk around town as much as possible. And I got a dog so that I would HAVE to walk every day. All way round I am feeling much better and my old joints are starting to limber up again. I feel younger both physically and mentally. Would love to hear from other low carb eaters out there. KCK

[massagewithjoy]

How is everyone doing. I was having a race with someone here...I know they kicked my butt ...well probably...it has been over a week and I only lost 1 lb...but I have been incredibly decadent in my eating and the only thing that saved me was exercize...still 1 lb. down is better then 1 up right! I got back on atkins yesterday and the detox from the sugar has begun. the pepsi keeps calling me from the fridge sometimes I feel like just pouring sugar in my mouth...but I know in a couple days I will be fine...and it is my second day and I already feel better. We all have to focus on the good instead of the bad. Everytime I get a post...(I have them sent to my email to remind me it helps otherwise I would probably space and never check here...it is a great way to support your self care if you tend to forget about you!) I read the entire thread and it inspires me...guess I need to start reading daily! Take care everone and go go go ra ra ra
Joy
It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live

[seajaycorley]

For the past 14 months, I have been trying to lose weight. On the Atkins diet, to date, I have lost nearly 35 pounds. Yet, for me, it seems that the weight is not coming off as quickly as I would like. (Note: I need to lose another 50 pounds to get down to my goal weight.)
Yes, it took me years to put it on .. but I find that I'm such
an emotional eater that when things just go crazy ... I find
that those carbs are the only thing that keep me sane.
Any support that we can offer each other - toward reaching
our goal weight - would be wonderful.

[missjennifer]

Has anyone tried Richard Simmon's Sweatin To The Oldies? That works for me or any other exercise video tape. I just ordered the Pilates book/video for flexibility and strength. Walking an hour a day helps also with 8 glasses of water or more if you can handle it. Eating before 8 p.m. helps alot also. I have just started exercising and was told that if I wait a month before I change my diet, my body will get used to the change. For right now, I will be walking, lifting weights and following the exercise videos. Reading inspirational and motivational books help. A great stress reliever would be to go for a walk on the beach or feed the ducks at a duck pond. Listening to classical or a relaxation cd works great too! I have 20 pounds to lose because I am tired all of the time and feel sluggish during the day. Anyone have other ideas for weight loss?

[missjennifer]

Are there any other weight loss programs besides Atkins?

[massagewithjoy]

Hello Friends!
These are some great suggestions. I am dying to get my hands on some pilates tapes-I am very poor right now and can't afford anything but that will be my first gift to myself when I can afford it! I have heard wonderful things about it. I was watching the news and I found it very funny but after all the diet fads over all the years the newest fad is the old fashioned eat healthy and exercize how hysterical is that. I understand what every one is going through here to the tenth fold. As I might have mentioned before I have 150 pounds to lose so I totally understand about it not coming off fast enough. I am doing atkins and have done a LOT of research on it. Like any addiction if you are an emotional eater your internal "tapes" I like to call them are going to tell you "I need carbs. they will ground me and make me feel better" our job is to challenge these tapes and recognize them for what they are just that. We are used to dealing with our pain, anger, sadness or sometimes even happiness with food, food is love for so many and we need to recognize that a hug can be much more loving and healing then mashed potatos. Atkins has really worked for me so far and in diet challenges the atkins people are the ones that have lost the most weight but above all this I truly know in my heart that exercize is where it is at. If you lose it and go carb. don't give up, get up and exercize! Exercize allows us to increase our carbs. because then we are using them. I have found a great form of exercize is going to clubs and dancing...if you can bear not drinking... even if you do ..it is so much fun...it doens't feel like work...you have the opportunity to be healed through movement, music and lights... and meet new people! I have to do that more. I find when I exercize I work too hard and often hurt myself. When I dance I release more and move with the flow and get in touch with my body better. Do without doing and the doing gets done! I can't second the idea of relaxation or better yet self hypnosis tapes. As with anything else it takes a commitment. We have spent years saying the wrong things to ourselves. Whenever I notice myself doing that I put on a tape and listen to positive things. It takes at least 30 days for programming to be set but you will feel the results immediately! You can but one...or make your own tape...sometimes the ones you buy have some cheesiness...I have learned to laugh with it and take what I can from it and leave what doesnt' work...they are great things for times of weakness. Put signs up on the fridge " why I want to lost weight" "The negative things that carbs. do to me...or fat or what ever enemy it is that you have in food" That can be very effective. Get on line and reread past posts to inspire you. Say the serenety prayer...may sound simple but say it until you belive it...if you do that and truly think about what your doing I gaurantee that you will NOT want to eat things that are hurting you it's just those tapes playing. Change the tapes! Change your life. Life is what you make it...just DO IT~
Blessings and a ra ra ra go go go to you all!
Joy

Okay, I'd like to join, too. Help me with the diet. I need to lose around 60 pounds, but have been in a depression for about five years. and haven't had much willpower. What works best on the Atkinson diet? My husband and I eat out every night, so I need advice on eating out on Atkinson.

I'm new to the boards and this website (my first day ).

Thanks for any advice.


I was reading through all the posts an this popped out at me again...don't know how much research your have done on depression but do you know there is a direct link with carbs. and depression...it effect the seratonin in the brain and obesity is often a result of people trying to self medicate...with food...have you looked into counseling and possible medicinal control to support you in your weight loss ... sometimes it is not about will power~ this might be the case. believe me I know! I find that my mental health goes right along side my physical health. I finally broke down and decided to try some medication...it has completely changed my "willpower" and now I have a handle on it and am going strong. I have tried to start and stop medication and see a direct relation to how I eat when I do that. When I stop taking medicine I start eating tons of carbs. so I know for they are related. If you don't want to go that root try herbal solutions like valerian root and st johns root they have also worked wonders for people...I cannot sing the praises of superbluegreen algae...I know some might not buy into it but wow that stuff is incredible...often with herbal medicines I have to take a lot more but that might be my size...just some more suggestions I thought of!

[codiboo]

I started the Atkins plan last November 2002. I weighed 173 pounds. I was faced with multiple health problems and my doctor said if I didn't get a grip and make some changes I would be dead in 5 years. I thought, "Or sooner if I choose."

This morning I got on the scales and now weigh 120 pounds. I am now 3 pounds below my perfect BMI. I used to wear a size 16 and now I wear a size 4. How did I do it?

I started by reading Cheryl's books first because I had to work through a ton of crap just to get started. She was my savior.

Then I followed the Atkins plan as much as possible and I didn't beat myself up when I couldn't. Just got back at it the next morning.

I had to NOT look at it like another diet, but a new way of eating. The word "diet" sets me up for failure immediately. This works and I know that it is the way I have to eat "always".

I worried about cholesterol and if I was getting a balanced diet at first. My recent physical shows that I am. The only thing that I added was a multi vitamin with iron. All of my blood work came back at or below normal and for the first time in my life my blood sugar is on target ( I have hypoglycemia). My thyroid is no longer enlarged. My blood pressure is normal and my heart rate is steady. I am not depressed anymore. I had reached a suicidal point.

I didn't tell my doctor because he would have poo-pooed it and given me a pill. I just started on my own because nothing else had ever worked and I have tried them all. He finally ask what I was doing and I finally confessed. He just couldn't believe the results. Looks like I'm going to live.

The main things I did was:

Eat three meals a day and three snacks a day. (Eating is really important) You can starve yourself fat.

I made a Atkins grocery list and printed multiple copies that have only Atkins foods on it.

When eating out....I pick something with a lot of bulk and high protein---like grilled salmon with steamed or grilled veggies or just a huge salad with dressing on the side with a steak or chicken breast. I always have some kind of meat for bulk.

At work...I take my own snacks. Celery with peanut butter. Fiber rye with cream cheese. Raw broccoli and califlower with dressing. Boiled eggs, bacon, nuts, and cheese always on hand. I keep a jar of peanut butter handy. A teaspoon of it kills the salt cravings (to get complete satisfaction it must be licked slowly off the spoon).

I have dessert daily. I have sugar free pudding, popsicles, and jello with whip cream.

When I get stuck (two weeks and no loss) I go back to induction and eat that way for 14 days.

The only "low carb" product I bought was the shake mix for those mornings when I don't have time for breafast. I tried some of the low carb foods and found them really lacking and way tooo expensive. A box of pasta cost the same as a three pound beef roast or a 5 pound chicken.

Gosh this has made me more in touch with my body. I learned that I am very sensitive to carbs. They make me feel horrible when I eat them and I mean physically sick and zap my energy.

My husband got on board when he saw how well I was doing. He has gone from 275 to 196 and feels great.

Most importantly, QUIT thinking DIET. Start thinking "NEW WAY OF LIFE"! Remember....All weight loss starts in the head and the way you think.

[carol1]

Hi all -- Congratulations on your weight loss. You not only seem very disciplined, but you also mentioned something very important. That is -- you followed the plan as much as possible, didn't beat yourself up when you couldn't and got right back on the next day. I am a personal coach, and I advise my clients to take this approach as much as possible. It is one of the keys to success.

[codiboo]

That's good you enforce the "human element" of weight loss. Most people look at as a success or failure thing. If you succeed you feel great about yourself, but boy, when you fail, you feel extremely bad and that sets resistance and more failure into motion.

My husband had a hard time with this. He felt a diet should be strict and regemented and he would beat himself up with guilt if he slipped. He had to get past the guilt. To remedy this, I suggested that we have two days a month to "cheat" and have an excluded item (potato, pasta, slice of pie) with supper. It worked because it showed him he could mess up intentionally and not be devastated by it. It worked! Now he says with a big grin "I have been such a naughty, naughty, boy." and moves on.

That is what I meant by getting your mind right at the start. You have to be realistic and know exactly how, what and why you are doing it.

Personally, I hate the word... diet. To me it means suffering. I come from a long line of family who all have weight and related health problems. And when my heart was flipping and flopping because of an enlarged thyroid was pumping out too much TSH hormone, I figured I was suffering enough. I decided to relax about the whole thing and just do the best I could for that day only. Then I would have the same goal for the following day and so on. There is a Zen to losing weight. You just take it a day at time...a meal at a time and remember above all else "Be kind to yourself".

[magiccat]

Great to read the tips above - day 5 on the atkins with teenage daughter in Australia - we are finding it relatively easy but running out of ideas for the induction stage. We also don't have the products or vitamins available to so would like to hear from other Australians on Atkins who have discovered options and anyone who has made out menu plans using cheap real food recipes. It really does change your whole perception of the shopping experience doesn't it?

[codiboo]

Magicat,

I found these two site very helpful

www.lowcarbluxury.com
www.lowcarbfriends.com

Both have a ton of recipes that don't require any special ingredients. The lowcarbluxury site has many good articles and suggestions.

Here are a couple of veggie recipes I fix that are quick and easy.

1. Steam brocolli, cauliflower and sliced yellow summer squash until tender. Then toss it with melted butter and lemon pepper seasoning. I also skewer these veggies. Then drizzle them with the melted butter and sprinkle on the lemon pepper and then grill.

2. Fry some bacon and then add those little round yellow and green baby squash cut in half and diced onion. Sautee until golden brown and tender. Salt and pepper to taste.

Hang in there. It gets easier as you go along and your carb intake increases. Believe it or not, that 5 grams of carbs you get to add per week after induction makes a huge difference in broadening your eating options.

[magiccat]

thank you very much - very helpful. Like your husband today - doing the right things but bloated so it colours the rest of the day.